District 9 Councilperson Elisa Chan (left) and District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg bow their heads in prayer before the morning session at City Council Chambers on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013.

District 9 Councilperson Elisa Chan (left) and District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg bow their heads in prayer before the morning session at City Council Chambers on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013.

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

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District 9 Councilperson Elisa Chan gives her remarks regarding the non-discrimination ordinance prior to the passage of the proposal into law by a vote of 8-3 at City Council Chambers on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013. less

District 9 Councilperson Elisa Chan gives her remarks regarding the non-discrimination ordinance prior to the passage of the proposal into law by a vote of 8-3 at City Council Chambers on Thursday, Sept. 5, ... more

Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News

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City Council member Elisa Chan acknowledges cheers from supporters as she takes her seat for Session B in City Council Chambers for the Nondiscrimination Ordinance meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, August 28, 2013. less

City Council member Elisa Chan acknowledges cheers from supporters as she takes her seat for Session B in City Council Chambers for the Nondiscrimination Ordinance meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, August 28, ... more

Photo: Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

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Our readers continue to offer their opinions, pro and con, about the comments made by Councilwoman Elisa Chan regarding a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance.

Our readers continue to offer their opinions, pro and con, about the comments made by Councilwoman Elisa Chan regarding a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance.

Photo: Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

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San Antonio City Councilwoman District 9 Elisa Chan enters a briefing room for a press conference at City Hall, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. In a secret recording by former staff member James Stevens on May 21, Chan condemned homosexuality and described it as "disgusting". At the press conference, Chan reiterated her rights to free speech and personal opinions. "Political correctness will not win this dayÉ.I stand strong in my First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech," she said. less

San Antonio City Councilwoman District 9 Elisa Chan enters a briefing room for a press conference at City Hall, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013. In a secret recording by former staff member James Stevens on May 21, Chan ... more

Photo: San Antonio Express-News

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Elisa Chan to challenge Donna Campbell in Texas Senate District 25

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Two months after stirring national controversy by condemning homosexuality, Councilwoman Elisa Chan has decided to leave the council to run for the Texas Senate in 2014, challenging District 25 state Sen. Donna Campbell in the March GOP primary.

Chan, 47, is taking on a first-term incumbent from New Braunfels who has strong backing among tea party members and some Republicans. Without attacking Campbell, Chan contends her council service prepares her well for the Legislature, and she hopes to survive the withering criticism generated by her opposition to the city's new nondiscrimination ordinance.

“I know a lot of people in this community agree with me; so I don't foresee any problem, but I would never know until I go out there,” Chan said Friday.

“With my qualifications, my experience, my conservative views, what can I do to make the biggest positive impact to the community? I think this is a good opportunity for me,” she said.

Speculation about a Chan candidacy wafted across Central Texas since summer, with some pundits saying she was seeking a graceful exit from her embattled city role. Chan drew national attention in August when the Express-News reported her secretly recorded, anti-gay comments. Yet, the controversy also flushed out Chan supporters who backed her free speech rights and opposition to the ordinance.

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Long dominated by the GOP, District 25 covers Kendall and Comal counties and parts of Bexar, Hays, Guadalupe and Travis counties. The northern part of Bexar County comprises nearly half of the district's voters.

The candidate filing period is Nov. 9-Dec. 9, and under state and city election laws, Chan can remain on council until she files as a candidate. She indicated she would resign before the filing period, but said she hasn't decided on a date.

Depending on when she steps down, Chan could be on the council when it takes up a CPS Energy rate increase request slated for Nov. 7.

City Clerk Leticia Vacek said once Chan resigns, City Council would appoint an interim replacement who would serve until an election in May. The winner of that election would serve out Chan's unexpired term ending in May 2015, Vacek said.

Reflecting on her council service, Chan said “I have always advocated for small government and actually suggested many different measures to cut costs but also to cut wasteful spending.... The voters would appreciate that, especially in these very uncertain economic times,” she said, adding that she's undaunted by the specter of serving multiple counties with myriad issues.

“I believe the council experience prepares me well. Just like council, you have to understand different neighborhoods. They have different issues, and they have different ways of approaching things,” she said.

Calling the primary race a “short sprint,” Chan indicated she'll wage a positive campaign. “I will be running for the position, not running against Sen. Campbell. I have good respect for her. We have different skill sets. The voters will be the ones to decide who would be more suitable, more qualified for that position.”

Chan, who's getting a late start on fundraising compared to Campbell, said “I will certainly get enough financial support to run a good and professional campaign.”

Represented by a Fort Worth political consultant, Chan disclosed her intentions in a statement outlining her aspirations — and her concerns about federal policies affecting Texas.

The Taiwan-born president of Unintech Consulting Engineers describes herself as “a steadfast foe of tax increases and a fierce opponent of wasteful government spending ... Our state and our families face serious threats over the next four years,” Chan said.

“Our energy industry is under attack by the Obama administration, the Obama economic policy has stalled job creation and prosperity, gradually destroying the middle class — the heart of our nation. And Obamacare is a threat to our national economic health and our individual health itself,” she said.

“Misguided policies pushed from Washington are steadily degrading our quality of education, our family values and even our ability to defend ourselves from violent criminals. We must have a strong and effective voice to counter those forces and push the frontiers of freedom forward,” she added.

Chan's announcement acknowledged clashes with Mayor Julián Castro, stating “she has not shied away from opposing his spending programs and liberal social agenda.” Chan allies said she considered, but eventually ruled out, a run against Castro in 2015.

Chan has represented District 9 on the North Side since 2009, winning in repeated landslides. The businesswoman was eligible to run for one more term in District 9 in 2015.

Also running for the GOP nomination in District 25 is San Antonio businessman Mike Novak. Democrat Dan Boone of Canyon Lake, plans to run for his party's nomination. The final showdown would be in November 2014.

Campbell captured the seat in 2012 after upsetting former Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, in the 2012 primary. She won the general election with 66 percent of the vote.

In a post-redistricting drawing early this year, Campbell drew a two-year term rather than the usual four-year term; so she's already fighting to retain her seat. In recent weeks she has been trotting out long lists of supporters around the district, most recently touting her backing from four top officials in Hays County.

Campbell's campaign had no immediate comment on Chan's entry into the race.